Mauritania-Politics

Mauritania's referendum set for July 15

APA-Nouakchott (Mauritania)

The date for the referendum on the constitution in Mauritania is July 15, according to a statement released Thursday in Nouakchott, at the end of the weekly government meeting.

“The vote will be organized based on the electoral roll used for the 2014 presidential poll, which has been revised for the 2017 referendum, as part of an administrative census conducted for additional electoral purposes,” the statement said.

The referendum was decided following the rejection by the Mauritanian Senate of the amendments proposed by the government.

These amendments deal, among others, with the abolition of the Senate and its replacement by regional councils, as well as the modification
of the national flag and anthem.

They were suggested at the end a dialogue organized in October 2016 between the ruling majority and a segment of the opposition.

However, this dialogue was snubbed by the National Forum for Democracy and Unity (FNDU), which groups a dozen opposition political parties,
trade unions and civil society organizations.